Big recommendation

[Mercdan68]

I've been buying,driving,rebuilding and insuring classic cars for over 20 years, today I have found in my opinion the best insurer out there, Footman James, superb service an email to confirm and a call back asking if I was happy with everything, just superb and very helpful,unlike a certain big insurer who caused me no end of grief last year, can I name them? Oh well think I should mods delete if not happy! Adrian Flux were just awful, I was threatened with bailiffs for fifty quid, for a policy I didn't want, due to direct debit being cancelled by myself after they took money when I had cancelled with them, to cut a long story short I paid up, got nowhere with them and will never use or recommend them again, three lots of car insurance they could of had but won't!, well impressed with footman james today and only £137 for my newly bought xj8. My dailys are insured locally, but for classic and retros give fj a try, customer service just spot on.

[joem83]

Feb 11, 2015 18:25:29 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Adrian Flux

Yep, quite possibly the worst insurance company I have used & prices depend on who you get on the phone - saved £1100 by hanging up on one woman and speaking to someone who knew more than what the PC said.
Screwed me on my GTI policy as well (changed mid policy)

[jeffeRS]

Result Dan. I had grief with AF too. But that's another story. Don't forget to fit a kill switch on your odometer. (joke)...

[ulver]

Very glad to hear this. I work for the group that FJ are a part of (albeit in a totally seperate area) so I'll pass on your feedback to them as I know they are very proud of how they treat customers.

[Smiler]

Do they insure modified vehicles (engine swaps)?

[ulver]

I have asked the question for you, I think as a broker they can do most things as they have access to specialist underwriters.

[Ryannn]

I've never had a problem with AF and I've used them for years! I got a reete posh 2012 Merc C220 as a hire car whilst my audi 80 was being written off! Lol

[THE_Liam]

They don't seem to like me, they always tell me they don't consider the car a classic, that's been the answer for a '91 Celica, an '89 BX, an '89 205 and a '93 190E.

[Dez]

Ive had similar Liam. In fact the guy at FJ was pretty condescending on the phone. AF on the other hand were very helpful, if a little pushy for business. I was only using them to lower a brentacre quite though, as they always seem to win out on customer service.

[THE_Liam]

Feb 12, 2015 14:31:42 GMT Dez said:

Ive had similar Liam. In fact the guy at FJ was pretty condescending on the phone. AF on the other hand were very helpful, if a little pushy for business. I was only using them to lower a brentacre quite though, as they always seem to win out on customer service.

I've found that, and found the same with AF, but Brentacre have been excellent. Cheap, easy to deal with, great service.

[grifterkid]

Footman James...?! I cannot fault them in the slightest...

[HoTWire]

Footman James were great when I had a standard car... or even a very slightly modified one... wouldn't touch my Datsun after the engine swap though.

[usedabused]

Well was with AF with my Golf GTi and mid policy Iran into the back of someone,paid out I replaced the car and come renual for a 130pd bora no change in price and no effect on the no claims, not bad at all....

[Rob M]

Years back I had a quote from FJ, was happy with it, then found that the price was somewhat different to the original quote when the paperwork came through. After expressing my displeasure I just never went with them again.
Flux has deteriorated considerably from where it used to be, a bloody good insurer. I actually renewed my Lotus insurance very recently, it was with Flux, but I managed to get a quote over £100 cheaper AND have more whistles and bells on the policy by going elsewhere.
My Lotus is currently with Carole Nash and Ive just got a quote on another Retro/Classic  and they have come up best with a quote in terms of cost and all the other options etc.
To be fair, my Daughter works for Flux and some of the storys I hear would make your hair stand on end, there truly are some massive tools out there.
Mind you, irrespective of the quality of the customer, Flux has been in freefall with its service, no doubt.

Motor insurance has become a bit of a lottery, that may have more to do with the underwriters than the brokers per se.

[Smiler]

Feb 12, 2015 11:03:34 GMT ulver said:

I have asked the question for you, I think as a broker they can do most things as they have access to specialist underwriters.

Thanks for that, very decent of you.

[Woofwoof]

Don't mention Adrian Flux. I gave them the opportunity to quote me last year. Honestly, I thought it was April 1st.

[Deleted]

Looked at classic car insurance on my 94 Audi coupe and all were more expensive than my ordinary insurance company and l get up to 90 days European cover

[PHUQ]

Feb 12, 2015 11:46:33 GMT THE_Liam said:

They don't seem to like me, they always tell me they don't consider the car a classic, that's been the answer for a '91 Celica, an '89 BX, an '89 205 and a '93 190E.

Was that in any way a surprise? Most of the "traditional" classis car insurers generally seem to have a 25 year old minimum rule, although some are prepared to offer exceptions for certain cars.

I was certainly pleasantly surprised to find some classic insurers quoting when I ran my old Volvo 240 through some comparison aites come renewal time, it had turned 25 over the course of the year. Never really thought about it before then 'cos it wasn't a classic car, just an old one, and I certainly wasn't treating it as one so didn't expect an insurer too.

[THE_Liam]

Feb 13, 2015 12:18:28 GMT PHUQ said:

Feb 12, 2015 11:46:33 GMT THE_Liam said:

They don't seem to like me, they always tell me they don't consider the car a classic, that's been the answer for a '91 Celica, an '89 BX, an '89 205 and a '93 190E.

Was that in any way a surprise? Most of the "traditional" classis car insurers generally seem to have a 25 year old minimum rule, although some are prepared to offer exceptions for certain cars.

I was certainly pleasantly surprised to find some classic insurers quoting when I ran my old Volvo 240 through some comparison aites come renewal time, it had turned 25 over the course of the year. Never really thought about it before then 'cos it wasn't a classic car, just an old one, and I certainly wasn't treating it as one so didn't expect an insurer too.

Yes it was a surprise, considering on each occasion they were the only company that objected to those cars. A few years ago I had a '95 Golf VR6 on classic cover, wasn't even 20 years old.

[PHUQ]

Fair enough- maybe you've been lucky, maybe I've been unlucky (or just not tried hard enough, mind you I've only ever had a couple of cars that are younger than 1980).

Don't think it's particularly fair to complain about a classic car insurance specialist refusing to quote on a non classic car though- Jags seem to be a bit of an exception to the age rules for some reason. No bias to FJ by the way- I've always found Lancaster much more helpful myself.